EU – Baltic States, Investments, Latvia, Markets and Companies

Plaude-Relingere is currently the executive director at Lawrence Asset Management, informs LETA/Nozare.lv.

''This is a company owned by foreign investors which looks for investment opportunities in the Baltics. I am a consultant in several very interesting projects,'' the former entrepreneur said.

As Plaude-Relingere admitted, compared to other unstable countries in Western Europe, the Baltics are seen as an attractive area for investments.

At the moment, one of the projects Plaude-Relingere has been working with the past two years, is with Debenhams, which operates around 200 stores around the world.

''If this project were to go ahead, residents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia would be able to purchase cosmetics, household goods and clothing for the same price as in Great Britain and Germany,'' she said. ''We are having specific discussions for 2013. This is a very big project, as EUR 10 million (LVL 7 million) is planned to be invested to open up three stores in the Baltic capitals and Helsinki.''

In Riga, it is planned to open two Debenhams department stores in existing shopping malls.

''I believe that the retail companies operating in Latvia are very professional. Compared to other countries, the variety of products sold is quite large, however, price remains the main issue, as these products should be sold for half the price,'' Plaude-Relingere added.